President Putin: In Chechnya We Have Done what Chechen People Wanted

'In Chechnya we have done what the people wanted. Preparations are under way for a referendum and a Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs is being created,' Vladimir Putin has announced. According to the president's press office, this announcement was made on Monday, December 23, at a meeting with Presidential Envoy on Human Rights in Chechnya Abdul-Hakim Sultygov. The main topic of discussion was preparation for the referendum.

As Mr Sultygov said, Chechens will have the first opportunity in 150 years to choose their own government. 'The Chechen people are excited about using their legal right to vote and choose the form of government in the republic,' said Mr Sultygov. The president was interested to know what else could be done to prepare the republic for the referendum.